Glasgow: More than 100 countries on Tuesday pledged to end deforestation, which scientists say is a major driver of climate change.
Britain hailed the commitment as the first major achievement of the UN climate summit in Glasgow. But campaigners say they need to look in detail – such promises have been made before, and have been broken.
The UK government said it has received a commitment from leaders representing more than 85% of the world’s forests to stop and reverse deforestation by 2030.
More than $19 billion has been pledged in public and private funds for the plan, which is backed by countries including Brazil, China, Colombia, Congo, Indonesia, Russia and the United States.
Forests are considered important ecosystems and an important way to absorb carbon dioxide – the main greenhouse gas – from the atmosphere.
But the value of timber as a commodity and the increasing demand for agricultural and pastoral land are leading to widespread and often illegal felling of forests, especially in developing countries.
Campaign group Human Rights Watch cautioned that similar agreements in the past have failed to take effect.
Luciana Tellez Chavez, an environmental researcher with the group, said strengthening the rights of indigenous peoples would help prevent deforestation and should be part of the agreement.
Alison Hoare, a senior research fellow at the political think tank chatham house, said world leaders in 2014 promised to end deforestation by 2030, “but since then deforestation has accelerated in many countries.”
“This new pledge recognizes the range of actions needed to protect our forests, including finance, support for rural livelihoods, and strong trade policies,” she said. “For this to be successful, inclusive processes and equitable legal frameworks will be needed, and governments must work with civil society, businesses and indigenous peoples to agree, monitor and enforce them.”
Around 130 world leaders are in Glasgow for the COP26 summit, which hosts Britain say is the last realistic chance to keep global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels – the target the world set in Paris six years ago .
On Monday, leaders heard warnings from officials and activists alike. British Prime Minister boris johnson described global warming as “a doomsday tool” tied to humanity. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres told his colleagues that humans are “digging their own graves.” and Prime Minister of Barbados mia motleySpeaking for the vulnerable island nations, Moral Burr added, warning leaders not to “allow the path of greed and selfishness to sow the seeds of our common destruction.”
climate activist Greta Thunberg At a rally outside the high-security climate site, he said the inside talk was just “blah blah blah” and that little would be gained.
“Change is not going to come from there,” he told some of the thousands of protesters who came to Glasgow to raise their voices. “It’s not leadership, it’s leadership. That’s what leadership looks like.”
Britain hailed the commitment as the first major achievement of the UN climate summit in Glasgow. But campaigners say they need to look in detail – such promises have been made before, and have been broken.
The UK government said it has received a commitment from leaders representing more than 85% of the world’s forests to stop and reverse deforestation by 2030.
More than $19 billion has been pledged in public and private funds for the plan, which is backed by countries including Brazil, China, Colombia, Congo, Indonesia, Russia and the United States.
Forests are considered important ecosystems and an important way to absorb carbon dioxide – the main greenhouse gas – from the atmosphere.
But the value of timber as a commodity and the increasing demand for agricultural and pastoral land are leading to widespread and often illegal felling of forests, especially in developing countries.
Campaign group Human Rights Watch cautioned that similar agreements in the past have failed to take effect.
Luciana Tellez Chavez, an environmental researcher with the group, said strengthening the rights of indigenous peoples would help prevent deforestation and should be part of the agreement.
Alison Hoare, a senior research fellow at the political think tank chatham house, said world leaders in 2014 promised to end deforestation by 2030, “but since then deforestation has accelerated in many countries.”
“This new pledge recognizes the range of actions needed to protect our forests, including finance, support for rural livelihoods, and strong trade policies,” she said. “For this to be successful, inclusive processes and equitable legal frameworks will be needed, and governments must work with civil society, businesses and indigenous peoples to agree, monitor and enforce them.”
Around 130 world leaders are in Glasgow for the COP26 summit, which hosts Britain say is the last realistic chance to keep global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels – the target the world set in Paris six years ago .
On Monday, leaders heard warnings from officials and activists alike. British Prime Minister boris johnson described global warming as “a doomsday tool” tied to humanity. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres told his colleagues that humans are “digging their own graves.” and Prime Minister of Barbados mia motleySpeaking for the vulnerable island nations, Moral Burr added, warning leaders not to “allow the path of greed and selfishness to sow the seeds of our common destruction.”
climate activist Greta Thunberg At a rally outside the high-security climate site, he said the inside talk was just “blah blah blah” and that little would be gained.
“Change is not going to come from there,” he told some of the thousands of protesters who came to Glasgow to raise their voices. “It’s not leadership, it’s leadership. That’s what leadership looks like.”
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